Carlos Tevez has said that Sir Alex Ferguson "made a mistake" by not starting him in Manchester United's Champions League final defeat by Barcelona. The forward has also spoken of his pain at regularly being among the substitutes last season as he prepares to end his stint at Old Trafford.

Tevez's contract expires today and he is expected to move to Manchester City after turning down the offer of a fresh deal. He believes his last game for United, against Barcelona in Rome, would have ended differently had he been selected from the beginning rather than thrown on for the second half with the team 1–0 down.

"You cannot argue with Alex Ferguson," he said. "He is like the president of England. It is impossible. You always lose. But he made a mistake to leave me on the bench. That was the only final the team had lost since I had been at Manchester United."

Tevez has no regrets at rejecting the chance to extend his two-year stay at Old Trafford. "My family knows how much I suffered at United. I could not arrive home after a match or a training session and forget my pain. It was not good and I transmitted all my sadness to them."